Lint filter assembly of laundry dryer

ABSTRACT

A lint filter assembly for a laundry dryer is provided. In the lint filter assembly, a door is provided, a lint filter has a filter housing installed at the rear of the door and a filter main body inserted into the filter housing, and at least one securing member is provided to secure the filter main body to the filter housing.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.2004-0041114, filed on Jun. 5, 2004 and PCT Application No.PCT/KR2005/001543, filed on May 25, 2005, which are hereby incorporatedby reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer, and more particularly,to a lint filter assembly of a laundry dryer having a door lint filterthat is firmly held in its housing.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, laundry dryers are popular home appliances that hold wetlaundry inside a drum, and dry the laundry by applying hot, dry air tothe laundry.

In detail, a laundry dryer employs a motor-driven drum to tumble laundryplaced therein, while blowing hot air through the drum to dry thelaundry. Dryers are divided into two basic types: exhaust-type dryersthat expel the hot air that has absorbed moisture from the laundry andcondensing dryers that use condensers to condense the absorbed moisturefrom the hot air and then recirculate the hot air within the dryer.

The above laundry dryers have a door disposed at their front portionsfor providing access into the laundry drum, and a lint filter installedon the door.

Specifically, lint and foreign materials from the laundry is blownaround in the drum during the drying process. When the hot aircontaining lint and other materials in the drum passes through the doorfilter, the lint and foreign materials are trapped by the filter. Such alint filter installed in a door is usually held in a filter case.

Here, when installing the lint filter in the filter case, it isimportant that the peripheral edges of the filter are positioned firmlyagainst the case in order to prevent lint from passing through the loosegaps and escaping out of the dryer. However, laundry dryers according tothe prior art do not have structures that position their door filtersfirmly against their housings, and thus, a portion of the lint in theirdrums bypasses the filters and escapes out from the dryers.

Also, in the case of condensing dryers, lint that bypasses the lintfilter circulates within the dryer, and accumulates on a fan or heater.When this occurs, lint can accumulate on a fan shaft, preventing the fanfrom rotating, or accumulate on a heater and be ignited by the heater tocause a fire.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

To solve these problems, the present invention provides an improved doorlint filter assembly for a laundry dryer that effectively filters lintduring a drying cycle.

Furthermore, the lint filter assembly of the present invention preventsunfiltered lint from amassing on a fan motor shaft to inhibit theoperation of the motor or on a heater to be ignited by the heater tocause a fire.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, there is provided a lint filter assemblyfor a laundry dryer including: a door; a lint filter having a filterhousing installed at the rear of the door and a filter main bodyinserted into the filter housing; and at least one securing member forsecuring the filter main body to the filter housing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda lint filter assembly for a laundry dryer including: a door; a filtermain body having a mesh and a frame on the outer periphery of the wiremesh; and a filter housing disposed at the rear of the door, and havinga guide rail for guiding an insertion of the filter main body and apressing member protruding at a right angle to the guide rail.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

An advantage of the lint filter assembly for a laundry dryer accordingto the present invention is that a lint filter is pressed more firmlyagainst its filter case.

Also, because the lint filter is pressed firmly against its filter case,lint inside the drum does not bypass the lint filter. Thus, lintbypassing the filter and exiting the dryer is prevented.

Furthermore, the accumulation of lint that bypasses the filter, settlingon a fan motor shaft or a heater to impede motor operation or to beignited by the heater causing a fire, can be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The spirit of the present invention can be understood more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a condenser-type laundry dryer employing alint filter assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the condenser-type laundry dryer;

FIG. 3 is rear view of the door lint filter according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a frontal perspective view of the door lint filter accordingto the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a button assembly of a dishwasheraccording to the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. While the present invention hasbeen described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferredembodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and variations can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention that come within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a condenser-type laundry dryer employing alint filter assembly according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is aperspective view of the condenser-type laundry dryer.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the laundry dryer 100 according to thepresent invention includes: a cabinet 130 forming the exterior of thedryer, a top cover 131 covering the top of the cabinet 130, a frontcover 120 installed at the front of the cabinet 130, a door 110installed to open and close through an opening of the front cover 120, acontrol panel 150 installed at the top of the front cover 120 andhousing electronics in its rear portion for controlling the dryer, and adrawer 140 disposed next to the control panel 150 to be inserted intothe dryer for holding condensed water.

In further detail, the control panel 150 has a dial knob 151 and settingbuttons 154 for entering operation settings, a display 152 for showingthe operation status of the dryer, an on/off button 153 for applyingelectrical current to the dryer 100, and a start button 155 to begin adrying cycle.

Also, the dryer 100 includes: a door lint filter 200 disposed at therear of the door 110 for filtering lint, a drying drum 160 locatedinside the cabinet 130 for receiving laundry, a motor 103 for drivingthe drying drum 160, a motor shaft 104 passing through the center of themotor 103, and a belt 161 wrapped around the outer perimeter of themotor shaft 104 and the drying drum 160 for transmitting the rotationalforce of the motor 103 to the drying drum 160. In further detail, thedoor lint filter 200 is made up of a filter housing 220 fixed to therear of the door 110 and a filter main body 210 that can be removablyinserted into the filter housing 220. A detailed description of the doorlint filter 200 will later be given, with reference to the drawings.

Additionally, the dryer 100 includes: a base 101 disposed below thedrying drum 160 and having the motor 103 installed on its upper surface,a cooling fan 102 installed inside the base 101 for suctioning air fromthe outside, a drying duct 105 installed at the rear of the cabinet 130for circulating the air inside the drying drum 160 to the inside of thedryer 100, a drying fan 107 installed inside the drying duct 105 forsuctioning air inside the drying drum 160, and a heater 106 installedinside the drying duct 105 for heating air suctioned by the drying fan107. Furthermore, the cooling fan 102 and the drying fan 107 areconnected to the motor shaft 104, and installed at mutually opposedends.

In more detail, the base 101 has a built-in air passage, above which thecooling fan 102 is installed. Below the front cover 120 is an intakegrill 180 for drawing in air from the outside. At the end of the airpassage is a condenser (not shown) for causing the air passing throughthe drying drum 160 and the air suctioned through the air passage insidethe base 101 to exchange heat. The condenser is inserted into the base101 by opening a cover 170 formed at the lower front portion of thefront cover 120 and being inserted therethrough.

Furthermore, an opening 121 is formed in roughly the center of the frontcover 120 for inserting the door lint filter 200 therein and a body lintfilter 190 into the lower edge of the opening 121. At the upper portionof the base 101 is formed a circulation duct 192 for circulating the airthat passes through the body lint filter 190 through to the condenser.

The following is a description of the dryer 100 operation according tothe present invention.

First, a user opens the door 110 and puts wet laundry into the drum 160.Then the user presses the on/off button 153 on the front panel 150 tosend electricity to the dryer 100. Next, using the dial knob 151 andsetting buttons 155, the user inputs the desired operation settings, andpresses the start button 155 to activate the dryer 100.

In more detail, when the dryer 100 is activated, the motor 103 andheater 106 receive electricity and begin operation. When the motor 103operates, the motor shaft 104 turns, thereby turning the belt 161 andconsequently, the drying drum 160.

Moreover, at the same time the motor 104 rotates, the cooling fan 102and drying fan 107 spin simultaneously. As the drying fan 107 spins, theair (A) inside the drying drum 160 is suctioned and exhausted through tothe drying duct 105. The air that flows into the drying duct 105 isheated by the heater 106, and re-enters the drying drum 160. The airthat re-enters the drying drum 160 absorbs moisture retained in thelaundry, and becomes humid air.

The hot air that has become humid in the drying drum 160 passes throughthe door lint filter 200, shedding its airborne lint and foreignsubstances. The air (A) that passes through the door lint filter 200then passes through the body lint filter 190 in a second filteringstage, and then moves along the circulation duct 192. Then, the airpasses through the condenser installed in the circulation duct 192.

Next, as the cooling fan 102 spins, outside air (B) is suctioned throughthe intake grill 180. The suctioned air (B) then passes through thecondenser. Here, the outside air (B) that passes through the condenserand the air (A) that moves along the circulation duct mutually exchangeheat. The outside air (B) and the air (A) moving along the circulationduct do not mix, and only exchange heat. The outside air that passesthrough the condenser is exhausted to the outside again, and thecirculating air moves along the circulation duct inside the base 101towards the drying fan 107. That is, the air (A) inside the drying drumis continuously recirculated through the drying drum.

FIG. 3 is rear view of the door lint filter according to the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the door lint filter 200 according to the presentinvention has, as described, a filter housing 220 and a filter main body210 that inserts perpendicularly into the filter housing 220. Here, theinserting direction of the filter main body 210 is not limited to theembodiments of the present invention, and can be inserted sideways or inany number of other ways.

In further detail, the filter housing 220 has a seal 221 formed alongthe peripheral edge of the opening meeting the rear of the door 110.Accordingly the air that enters the filter housing 220 from inside thedrum cannot escape out of the dryer 100.

Also, at the rear of the filter housing 220 is a plurality ofperforations 224 for allowing air from the drum into the filter housing220.

For our purposes, the front of the filter housing 220 is the facetattached to the opening at the rear of the door 110, and the rear of thefilter housing 220 is the facet facing the inside of the drying drum160.

The filter main body 210 inserted in the filter housing 220 includes awire mesh 211, a frame 212 formed around the periphery of the wire mesh211 for protecting the same, and a handle 213 disposed at the top of theframe 212 for a user to grasp when inserting or pulling out the filtermain body 210. Also, a guide rail 222 is disposed on either side of thefilter housing 220 for guiding the filter main body 210 so that thelatter can easily slide in and out of the filter housing 220.

The filter housing 220 is completely sealed on the rear of the door 110.The seal 221 around the periphery of the filter housing 220 preventsleakage therethrough. As illustrated, the filter housing 220 has aU-shaped cross section, and allows a pre-determined space between it andthe opening wall when the door 110 is closed. A user grasps the handle212 formed at the top of the filter main body 210 to insert the latterinto the filter housing 220.

FIG. 4 is a frontal perspective view of the door lint filter accordingto the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the filter housing 220 of the door lint filter 200according to the present invention has an exhaust duct 223 formed at itsbottom, to allow air passing through the filter main body 210 to passinto the body lint filter 190.

Also, a securing member 230 protrudes perpendicularly to the guide rail222 at the bottom end of the guide rail 222 for guiding an insertedfilter main body. The securing member 230 protrudes towards the rear ofthe filter housing 220.

In further detail, the securing member 230 pushes each lower end of theperiphery of the filter main body 210, so that the filter main body 210is pressed completely against the rear of the filter housing 220. Inother words, the securing member 230, as previously described, is formedto extend a predetermined distance at a right angle from the guide rail222, so that the rear periphery of the filter main body 210 comes intocontact with the securing member 230.

In still further detail, the securing member 230 is formed in a roughlyrectangular shape, with a convexing portion 232 convexing outward fromthe center of the end portion of the securing member 230. The securingmember 230 also includes a supporting protrusion 231 for supporting theconvexing portion 232.

The following is an explanation of the workings of the securing member230.

First, when a user inserts the filter main body 210 perpendicularlydownward, the lower periphery of the filter main body 210 contacts theconvexing portion 232 of the securing member 230. Next, the lowerperiphery of the filter main body 210 is pressed against the rear of thefilter housing 220 by the securing member 230. Consequently, the filtermain body 210 and the rear of the filter housing 220 are firmly sealed.

Here, as the filter main body 210 is pressed against the rear of thefilter housing 220, the convexing portion 232 is pressed towards thesupporting protrusion 231. However, the convexing portion 232 is pressedonly as far as the space between it and the supporting protrusion 231.When the user pulls the filter main body 210 from the filter housing220, the convexing portion 232 returns to its original shape, due to itsinherent elasticity. That is, the contact between the supportingprotrusion 231 and the convexing portion is 232 broken.

As shown in the preceding explanation, the filter main body 210 ispressed more firmly against the rear of the filter housing 220, thuspreventing hot moist air that passes into the filter housing 220 fromnot passing through the filter main body 210, but leaking through gapsinstead. The hot air passes from the front of the drying drum 160through perforations 224 formed at the rear of the filter housing 220 tothe inside of the filter housing 220. When the air passes through thewire mesh 211 of the filter main body 210, lint and other impurities areremoved. The air that passes through the wire mesh 211 passes throughthe exhaust duct 223 formed at the bottom of the filter housing 220 (asshown) towards the body lint filter 190.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Because the lint filter assembly for a laundry dryer according to thepresent invention completely filters the lint inside the drying drumduring a drying cycle, air outside the dryer will not be polluted by theair from the dryer and the dryer will not suffer electrical ormechanical failures caused by lint build-up on its components, therebyproviding a high industrial applicability of the present invention.

1. A lint filter assembly for a dryer comprising: a door; a lint filterincluding a filter housing installed at a rear of the door and a filtermain body inserted into the filter housing; and at least one securingmember for securing the filter main body to the filter housing; a convexportion formed at the securing member and configured to contact thefilter; and a supporting protrusion spaced away from the convex portion,wherein the filter main body is inserted into the filter housing, theconvex portion is convex towards the supporting protrusion to besupported by the supporting protrusion.
 2. The lint filter assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the filter housing has a guide rail formedtherein for guiding the filter main body therein.
 3. The lint filterassembly according to claim 2, wherein the securing member is formed ata bottom portion of the guide rail.
 4. The lint filter assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein the securing member is formedperpendicularly to the guide rail.
 5. The lint filter assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein the convex portion has a predetermined elasticity.6. The lint filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the filtermain body is pressed firmly by the securing member against a rear of thefilter housing.
 7. The lint filter assembly according to claim 1,wherein the convex portion has a deformation degree limited by thesupporting protrusion.
 8. The lint filter assembly according to claim 1,wherein the filter main body inserts into the filter housing from a topor a side.
 9. The lint filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein thepressing member protrudes in a direction so that the pressing memberpresses the filter main body against a rear of the filter housing.